Featured
4-H Program for Kids at Hungerford Park Runs from Oct to Jun
There will be a 4-H program for kids at the New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park. The program will be on the third Tuesday of each month, from October to June. The programs run from 3:45pm to 4:45pm. “Does your child love animals and nature?” asks the Museum. “Do you want to get them […]
Council Considers Allowing City Borrowing Services Contract to Change Firms With Former Stewart Chief of Staff
The Republican-dominated City Council is set to consider a resolution that would authorize Republican Mayor Erin E. Stewart to sign a contract moving city borrowing services from one firm employing her former Chief of Staff to the firm to which he has recently moved. The Council resolution says that, “William Blair and Company, the City’s Public […]
New Britain’s Puerto Rican Festival, Celebration and Helping Hurricane Relief
Hundreds of people gathered on front on the Puerto Rican Society of New Britain on September 9, 2017 in celebration of New Britain’s 2017 Puerto Rican Festival. Amongst the live music, food and vendors, people enjoyed company of friends and family on a warm and sunny September day. The Festival is a time when Puerto […]
Did Stewart’s Use of Main Street USA Advertising Violate Campaign Laws?
Questions have arisen about the legality of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart using the recent Main Street USA event for political self-promotion. A state law prohibits a candidate for public office from using public funds to promote themselves on, among other things, newspaper ads and billboards, within a year of an election. The questions about whether […]
New Britain Youth Theater Wins Recognition and Plans Auditions for New Season
The New Britain Youth Theater (NBYT), which begins its eighth season this month with auditions for a December production of “Annie Jr.,” has also announced that it has been named “Best Children’s Theater” by Connecticut Magazine. In its September edition, Connecticut Magazine says that, After putting on three shows in its inaugural season in 2010-11, […]
Did Stewart Get A Prohibited Campaign Freebie In Mailing Of Car Tax Bills?
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist New Britain motor vehicle owners finally got their bills on September 1 along with a glowing missive from Mayor Erin Stewart that makes the case for her re-election. The city held up auto tax notices this year, blaming the state budget impasse for the two month delay. Uncertain was whether […]
Proposed 23% Mayoral Pay Increase Re-Emerges As Issue in Debate on School System Salaries
The proposal promoted by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to increase the mayor’s salary by 23% was thrust again into attention by the recent controversy among city Republicans about the salary levels of three school system staff members. In a recent article and editorial in the New Britain City Journal, Republican elected officials allied with Stewart […]
New School Year Brings New Associate and Assistant Principals Appointments
The new school year has also brought several new associate and assistant principal appointments to be a part of the leadership of the New Britain Schools. In New Britain High School, Antoine Billy has been named Associate Principal. An educator since 2013, Billy holds two Bachelor’s Degrees, one in Religious Education from New York Southeast Religious […]
Republican Partisan Gambit Raises Meeting Legality Questions
The attempt by members of the City Council elected as Republicans to claim different party affiliations than they were elected as has raised the question of whether the Republican Party’s caucus on the City Council may have been holding unlawful meetings. State law requires that meetings of a majority of City Council members must be […]
Scenes from the 37th Annual Dożynki Festival
The 37th annual Dożynki Festival began on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Falcon Field in New Britain. Food, music, dancing and community celebration at the Festival continue through Sunday, the 27th. Dożynki is the traditional Polish harvest celebration, giving thanks for a bountiful harvest. The festival began with the celebration of Mass on Saturday morning, followed […]
Talisha Foy Named Principal of Northend school
Talisha Foy, an educator at the Waterbury Public Schools since 2006, has been named as the Principal of the Northend Elementary School. “I am extremely excited about becoming a part of the CSDNB family and look forward to working closely with the wonderful students, families and staff at Northend Elementary School,” said Foy. Foy assumes the […]
Democratic and Republican City Election Candidates for 2017
With Autumn just around the corner, election season will be coming into full swing. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party have both put forward their slates for the city elections on November 7th. For Mayor, the candidates are: Democratic Republican Merril Gay Erin Stewart For Town and City Clerk, the two parties have nominated […]
Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus Endorses Merrill Gay for Mayor and Entire New Britain Democratic Slate
The Connecticut Hispanic Democratic Caucus (CHDC), a statewide coalition of Hispanic/Latino elected and appointed officials, community leaders, clergy, and business leaders, has endorsed Democrat Merrill Gay’s candidacy for Mayor of New Britain, as well as the entire Democratic slate in this year’s New Britain elections. “Our caucus typically only endorses Hispanic candidates,” said CHDC president […]
Merrill Gay and other Democrats Call for Unity Against Trump’s Support of White Supremacists
Democratic Mayoral Candidate, Merrill Gay, the New Britain Democratic Party and local Democratic slate are calling for unity in New Britain against Republican President Donald Trump’s support for white supremacists. Gay, Democratic Town Committee Chair Bill Shortell and other Democratic candidates are calling on local Republicans who have supported Trump to do so as well. “Last […]
Former Board of Education President Creates Charitable Fund
Former school board President Fran Wolski has established a family charitable fund to make grants to enrich the lives of New Britain school children. The new Raymond and Frances Wolski Family Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. The donor-advised fund will make small annual grants, with Wolski playing the […]
Stewart Allies Criticize Kane Salary Three Months After Stewart Objected to Kane Comments on City Budget
The criticism, by allies of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart, of a decision by the Board of Education to increase the salaries of school system Chief Financial Officer Kevin Kane came about three months after Stewart, herself, publicly criticized Kane because of a presentation by Kane that Stewart took as critical of her then-proposed budget. In a […]
Major Inaccuracies in City Journal Article on School System Salaries
Major inaccuracies appeared in a recent article by the Republican-oriented New Britain City Journal in which City Hall Republicans attacked a decision by the Republican-led Board of Education on administrative staff salaries. In an editorial, the City Journal, closely allied with Republican Mayor Erin Stewart, criticized the decision of the Board of Education on three […]
GOP Alderman Hits School Board On Salaries But Rubber Stamps Pay Hikes, More Spending At City Hall
By John McNamara The sometimes fragile relations between City Hall and the Board of Education took a backward step this week over complaints from Ward 2 Republican Alderman Kristian Rosado appearing in the New Britain City Journal. Rosado, in a front-page story in the City Journal, derided a unanimous BOE move on salary increases for […]
Construction to Begin on Monument to Honor 65th Infantry Borinqueneers
Construction is ready to begin on the monument for the highly decorated 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, at the new city park in the unit’s honor at the corner of Washington and Beaver Streets. The 65th was organized as a military unit on Puerto Rico in 1898 and its soldiers were primarily Puerto Rican. […]
STEM Program at New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park Starting Aug 7th
The New Britain Youth Museum at Hungerford Park will be having a STEM program for children in grades 1 though 5 from August 7, 2017 to August 25th. “STEM” refers to educational programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The Museum says that learning in sciences will include chemistry, physics and biology. It says that, […]